Profanity vs Synapse
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Synapse
Reference homeserver for the Matrix network
| Feature | Profanity | Synapse |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,542 | ★ 4,643 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Slack | Slack, Discord, WhatsApp |
What are Profanity and Synapse?
Profanity
Profanity is a console XMPP client whose interface is inspired by irssi. It supports OMEMO and OTR encryption, group chats, and a fully keyboard-driven workflow for the terminal.
- Terminal interface
- OMEMO and OTR encryption
- Keyboard-driven workflow
- Plugin support
Synapse
Synapse is the reference homeserver implementation for Matrix, an open protocol for decentralized, federated, secure chat. It targets communities and organizations running their own messaging infrastructure. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Federated Matrix homeserver
- End-to-end encrypted rooms
- Bridges to other networks
- Many compatible clients
Profanity vs Synapse: key differences
Profanity is written in C, while Synapse is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Profanity versus AGPL-3.0 for Synapse. Profanity is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Synapse. Profanity is the more established project (first released 2012), while Synapse arrived in 2014. Synapse has the considerably larger community, at 4,643 GitHub stars versus 1,542. Synapse lists first-class Docker deployment; Profanity does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Profanity if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Choose Synapse if…
- Open federated protocol
- Strong encryption
- Bridges to other chats
Watch out for
- Resource and maintenance heavy
- Complex to operate well
Frequently asked questions
Is Profanity or Synapse better?
Neither is universally better. Synapse has the larger community, while Profanity is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Profanity and Synapse free and open-source?
Yes. Profanity is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Synapse under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Profanity and Synapse with Docker?
Profanity: check the project docs for container support. Synapse: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Profanity or Synapse?
Profanity has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Synapse. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.